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The need for new ocean conservation strategies in a high-carbon dioxide world

Abstract

The historically unprecedented threats to the marine environment posed by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide will probably require the use of unconventional, non-passive methods to conserve marine ecosystems. Soliciting such approaches and evaluating their cost, safety and effectiveness must be part of a robust ocean conservation and management plan going forward.

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Figure 1: Depiction of threats and outcomes facing marine biota and the possible effects of intervention and management, emphasizing both the conventional and unconventional nature of the stressors and hence the need to consider unconventional management practices.

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Rau, G., McLeod, E. & Hoegh-Guldberg, O. The need for new ocean conservation strategies in a high-carbon dioxide world. Nature Clim Change 2, 720–724 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1555

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